grammar - Nakama 2
A. Occasion and Time: 時
You may recall talking about different times using 時 in Nakama 12. In this chapter, we will explore how 時 can be combined with verbs to talk about 1) Uncompleted Actions; and 2) Completed Actions.
Uncompleted Actions: Plain Present Verb + 時
When combined with an action verb in the present tense, the implication is that the 時 sentence clause had not been completed by the time the main clause happened. For example:
Completed Actions: Plain Past Verb + 時
Alternatively, if 時 is paired with a verb in the past tense, it indicates that the 時 clause was completed by the time the main action took place. For example:
Note that even though the 時 clause is in the past tense, it is the main clause that indicates when things really happened.
Some notes on talking about time:
You may recall talking about different times using 時 in Nakama 12. In this chapter, we will explore how 時 can be combined with verbs to talk about 1) Uncompleted Actions; and 2) Completed Actions.
Uncompleted Actions: Plain Present Verb + 時
When combined with an action verb in the present tense, the implication is that the 時 sentence clause had not been completed by the time the main clause happened. For example:
- 映画館で映画を見ていく時、げいたい電話をけします。 When I go to see a movie at the theater, I shut my cell phone off.
Completed Actions: Plain Past Verb + 時
Alternatively, if 時 is paired with a verb in the past tense, it indicates that the 時 clause was completed by the time the main action took place. For example:
- 映画館で映画を見ていった時、げいたい電話をけしました。 I shut my cell phone off when I went to see the movie at the theater.
Note that even though the 時 clause is in the past tense, it is the main clause that indicates when things really happened.
Some notes on talking about time:
- the particle に is optional in this instance, but can appear in ways such as 時に、時は、時には
- use が to mark the subject of the 時 clause if it is different from the main clause
B. Expressing Intentions: Volitional Forms + と思う
This is the first of three ways to express intentions that we will explore in this chapter. This form requires the volitional form of verbs to express a tentative intention. It can be roughly translated as "I'm thinking of doing ..." The volitional form of verbs is created as follows:
U Verbs (change う sound to long う sound, as in おう)
使う 使おう
話す 話そう
Ru Verbs (replace る with よう)
食べる 食べよう
教える 教えよう
Irregular Verbs
する しよう
来る こよう
For example:
Note that when you are the speaker using と思っています the implication is that you have been thinking of it for some time. If you are discussing what someone else is thinking, you must use と思っています, which conveys what the person currently thinks as well as what they have been thinking about over time.
This is the first of three ways to express intentions that we will explore in this chapter. This form requires the volitional form of verbs to express a tentative intention. It can be roughly translated as "I'm thinking of doing ..." The volitional form of verbs is created as follows:
U Verbs (change う sound to long う sound, as in おう)
使う 使おう
話す 話そう
Ru Verbs (replace る with よう)
食べる 食べよう
教える 教えよう
Irregular Verbs
する しよう
来る こよう
For example:
- フランスへ旅行しようと思っています。 I'm thinking of travelling to France.
Note that when you are the speaker using と思っています the implication is that you have been thinking of it for some time. If you are discussing what someone else is thinking, you must use と思っています, which conveys what the person currently thinks as well as what they have been thinking about over time.
C. Expressing Intentions: Plain Present Form + つもり、よてい
つもり
Compared to the volitional form, つもり expresses a much stronger intention to do something. You can think of it as "I intend to ..." It is simply attached to the plain form of a verb. For example:
Note:
よてい
This is a noun which means plan. Like つもり, it follows the plain present form of a verb to indicate a specific plan. The subject of these types of sentences can be anyone else. For example:
As with つもり, to indicate you don't have any plans, use はありません/ない.
つもり
Compared to the volitional form, つもり expresses a much stronger intention to do something. You can think of it as "I intend to ..." It is simply attached to the plain form of a verb. For example:
- 来年六週でフランスに旅行するつもりです。 Next year I intend to travel in France for 6 weeks.
Note:
- use つもりはありません/ない to indicate you don't have any intentions
よてい
This is a noun which means plan. Like つもり, it follows the plain present form of a verb to indicate a specific plan. The subject of these types of sentences can be anyone else. For example:
- フランスに旅行したから、よくホステルに泊まるよていです。 When I travel to France, I plan to stay in hostels often.
As with つもり, to indicate you don't have any plans, use はありません/ない.
D. Using もう and まだ
In the past, Lesson 8 and Lesson 13 have briefly touched on using もう and まだ. This lesson formally explores their use.
In English, we can think of the adverb もう as "already" (when used with declarative sentences) and "yet" (when used with interrogative sentences). In negative sentences, it translates to "not anymore" or "not any longer". For example:
On the other hand, we think of the adverb まだ as "still" in affirmative sentences and as "yet" or "still" in negative sentences. For example:
In the past, Lesson 8 and Lesson 13 have briefly touched on using もう and まだ. This lesson formally explores their use.
In English, we can think of the adverb もう as "already" (when used with declarative sentences) and "yet" (when used with interrogative sentences). In negative sentences, it translates to "not anymore" or "not any longer". For example:
- この本もう読みましたか。 Have you read that book yet?
- はい、もう読みました。 Yes, I've read it already.
- もう読みません。 I can't read any longer.
On the other hand, we think of the adverb まだ as "still" in affirmative sentences and as "yet" or "still" in negative sentences. For example:
- まだ読んでいますか。 Are you still reading?
- はい、まだ終わりません。 Yes, I haven't finished yet.